Power actuated swim apparatus



June 13, 1967 J. J. TETYAK POWER ACTUATED SWIM APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 1, 1966 \n. $4.. ATTORNEY June 13, 1967 J. J. TETYAK POWER ACTUATED SWIM APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb, 1, 1966 IN VENIOR.

JOHN J. TETYAK TTORNEY United States Patent 3,324,819 POWER ACTUATED SWIM APPARATUS John J. Tetyak, Boca Raton, Fla., assignor to Wilco Industries, Inc., Fort Lauderdale, Fla., a corporation of Florida Filed Feb. 1, 1966, Ser. No. 524,231 6 Claims. (Cl. 115--6.1)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A power driven floatation device to be held by a swimmer and with an attachment to the body of the device and with the attachment being provided with a sight opening whereby a swimmer may look downwardly into the water as he is being towed in a swimming position and with the swimmer having access to engine control means to increase or decrease the speed of the floatation device.

This invention relates to a power actuated swimming apparatus and has for its object to provide a floatation hull, in which is mounted a gasoline driven engine and with the hull at its rear end being connected to a viewing apparatus whereby the swimmer is able to engage the viewing apparatus whereby to observe underwater conditions.

The invention further comprises a power driven floatation hull having an engine mounted therein and with novel control means for the exhaust gases from the engine that pass through a depending manifold, to be cooled and exhausted through an upper stack in a relatively cool condition also the floatation hull is provided with a starter mechanism and a speed controlled serrated bar that is controllable under the influence of the hands of a swimmer for increasing or decreasing the speed of the hull.

Novel features of construction and operation of the device will be more clearly apparent during the course of the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings wherein has been illustrated a preferred form of the device and wherein like characters of reference are employed to denote like parts throughout the several figures.

In the drawings: 9

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a swimming apparatus constructed in accordance with the invention,

FIGURE 2 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on line 22 of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 3 is a longitudinal sectional View through the hull of the device, taken substantially on line 3-3 of FIGURE 1,

FIGURE 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken substantially on line 4-4 of FIGURE 3, and

FIGURE 5 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on line 5-5 of FIGURE 3.

Referring specifically to the drawings, there has been provided a hull 5, having a lower skin 6 and an upper skin 7. The hull 5 may be of any particular contour and the skin 7 is connected to the skin 6 by flat flanges 8, formed upon the marginal edge of the skin 6 and having fitment around the upper skin 7 and bonded or otherwise fixed therein against separation or leakage. The groove 9 and the flange 8 extends substantially around the marginal portion of the hull. The upper skin 7 is provided with a rearwardly disposed opening 10, that is covered by a cover 11, hinged at 12 upon one side and upon the other side being provided with a latch 13. The cover 11 is apertured and carries a rearwardly inclined tubular stack 14, for the passage of fresh air to the interior of the hull, to flow about the engine and to maintain the engine and associated elements cool. Also carried by the cover 11, is a second exhaust stack 15, that is inclined rearwardly and whereby to receive exhaust cooled exhaust gases from the engine, to be described. The stacks 14 and 15 are fixedly connected together and also to a flange 16 of the cover 11 whereby the cover, when opened carries the stacks 14 and 15 with it.

Mounted within the forward chamber of the hull 5 is a fuel tank 17, that rests upon a block of floatation material, such as styrofoam or the like 18. The styrofoam 18 not only imparts floatation qualities to the hull 5 but also is non-absorbent with respect to any leakage from the fuel tank 17. The skin 7, over the tank 17 is provided with a filler cap 19 of conventional construction.

Mounted within the hull 5, beneath the cover 11 is a conventional internal combustion engine 20. The engine is supported in bonded relation to upstanding legs 21, that are spaced apart transversely and molded integral with a mounted plate 22. The engine is bolted to the legs 21 at opposite sides by bolts 23. The engine is provided with a coil starter 24, that is motivated by a starter handle 25, cables 26 of which extend through the rear opening of the skin 7, as indicated at 27 and whereby the handle is disposed outwardly of the hull for manual engagement by the swimmer. The engine 20 is also provided with a conventional carburator 28 and a choke wire 29, connected to a button 30, serves to control the mixture of gasoline or other fluids through the engine. A fuel pipe 31, leads from the lower end of the fuel tank 17, to the carburator 28.

The carburator 28 is further controlled by a serrated roller bar 32 that has its ends journaled in bearings 33 upon the opposite sides of the top portion of the hull and with the roller bar 32 being connected to a flexible cable 34, that is in turn connected to the carburator and whereby a manual rotation of the bar 32 will control the carburator to increase or decrease the speed of the device. The plate 22 is also provided with an upstanding stack 35, that underlies and is bolted to the exhaust coupling 36 of the engine. The drive shaft of the engine 20 extendsdownwardly and is provided with a clutch drive 36 whereby the .drive to a shaft 37 is only actuated when the speed of the engine has attained a predetermined number of revolutions. The shaft 37 extends downwardly through the plate 22 and has coupling engagement within a drive unit 38, driving a propeller 39, that is disposed within a cylindrical housing 40 and bolted to the plate 22, as indicated at 41. The propeller 39 drives the hull 5 in a forward direction and with the water, indicated at W flowing through the housing 40 and thereby preventing the user from becoming engaged with the propeller, either with his hands or his feet.

' Also carried by the plate 22, is an elongated downwardly extending mufller 42 that is also connected to the stack 45. The mufller 42 is molded integral with the plate 22, having an outer shell 43 that is tapered at its forward end, as indicated at 44. The side walls 43 of the muflier are provided with a plurality of longitudinal extending ribs 45. The side walls of the muflier as indicated at 43 are provided with upper flanges 46 that are bonded to the bottom of the hull 5 by a suitable bonding cement. Fitted within the muffler 42 and extending for its major length is a diffusing element 47, closed at its forward end 48 and with its rear end open to permit the entry of exhaust gases from the stack 35. The side walls of the diffusing element 47 are perforated for their major areas and carry staggered bafl'le plates 48. The diflusing element 47 is molded integral with a plate 49, that overlies the upper opening of the mufiler 42 and is welded or otherwise connected to the plate 22 and whereby the diffusing element 47 is accurately aligned with the sides 43 of the muffler 42 and with the side walls of the diffusing element being slightly spaced from the ribs 45. Molded integral with the plate 49 is a relatively short cylindrical stack 50 that is angled in accordance with the angularity of the stack 15 and whereby to discharge hot gases from the engine upwardly through the stack 15 for discharge to the atmosphere. The stack 50 is axial with respect to the stack 15 and only enters the stack 15 at its lower end and whereby to create a venturi action with respect to the chamber 51, formed by a shield 52.

It should be pointed out, that the hull of the floatation device 5, including the upper and lower skins 6 and 7 are molded of a suitable plastic material as is also the cover 11. The major area of the mufiler 42 is dependent into the water W, as clearly indicated in FIGURES 3 and 5.

Adapted to have detachable connection with the rear end of the hull 5, is a viewing device, indicated as a Whole by the numeral 53. The viewing device embodies a pair of plastic members 54 and 55. As shown particularly in FIGURE 2, the members 54 and 55 are bonded together, as indicated at 56, forming a flange that extends entirely around the viewing device and with the forward end of the flange being connected with lugs 57, carried by the rear end of the hull and with the element 54 underlying the flange 9. Passing through the elements 54 and 55, at the point of the flange 9, is a bolt 60, threaded at its upper end to carry a clamping wing nut 61 and whereby the viewing device 53 may be connected to the hull 5 in a relatively rigid manner to prevent the viewing device from weaving up and down or laterally. The element 54 is molded to form upstanding arm engaging means 62 that are beveled at 63 upon their forward edges, that are adapted to fit within the arm pits of the swimmer. The members 54 and 55 are provided with a body receiving cavity 64, when the swimmer has engaged the device and with his arms extending over ribs 65. Molded integral with the upper face 66 of the viewing device 53, is an upstanding frame 67, in which is mounted a transparent viewing plate 68, that is sealed within the frame 67 in any suitable manner and with the plate 68 having alignment with a viewing plate 69, disposed within a frame 70 of the member 55. The several parts of the viewing device as described, forms a hollow device whereby the swimmer may engage the member 62 and position his head to look down through the plates 68 and 69 to observe underwater activity, such as fish or other underwater marine life. Since it is possible that the plates 68 and 69 may become clouded by the passage over the water, it is desired that the chamber 70 be exhausted of air and filled with either nitrogen or argon gases that will maintain the plates 68 and 69 clear and permit a straight view downwardly of the device 53.

In the use of the device, the viewing device 53 is connected to the rear end of the hull 5 by the wing nut 61, after first hooking the device over the lugs 57. If the device is in the water, it is necessary that the engine 20 be actuated by starter handle 25 and possibly by the use of the choke 30 having in mind, that the cover 11 is fully closed and in the latched position, with the engine in operation, hot gases flow to the stack 35 and continue downwardly, through the mufller 42 where they are exhausted upwardly through the inclined stack 50 to the larger stack 15, pulling fresh air downwardly through the stack 14 to flow about the engine and to the chamber 51, effectively cooling the engine, since the exhaust gases from the stack 50 create the venturi action at the lower end of the stack 15 and pull the cooling air from the chamber 51 to be exhausted from the stack 15. With the device disposed within the water, as clearly illustrated, the engine is increased or decreased in speed by the bar 32, being actuated by the swimmer, lying upon the viewing device 53 and with his hands engaged with the bar 32, to pull upon the cable 34 that controls the carburator. With the engine in a driving operation, the propeller device 38 is actuated to drive the propeller 39 for propelling the hull and the viewing device through the water, The clutch drive device 36, upon the shaft 37 only actuates the propeller 39 when the speed of the engine has attained an rpm. of a predetermined degree. As the exhaust gases flow downwardly to the manifold 42, they flow in the direction of the arrows through the diffusing element 47 back through the baflles 48 and through the apertures of the side Walls of the diffusing element 47 and are trained backwardly along the side walls 43 of the muffler and follow along the ribs 45 to be exhausted through the stack 50 and through the stack 15, effectively disposing of the hot exhaust gases, since the muffler, traveling in the water also aids in cooling the hot gases as they flow through the mufller. It will be apparent, that the device when disposed in the water may permit the engagement of the swimmer upon the viewing device 53 and held against displacement from the viewing device by arm rests 62. The speed of the device may be controlled by the rotation of the serrated bar 32, through the cable 34 to increase or decrease the speed of the device through the water.

The hull 5, is adapted to be lifted from the water and to facilitate such movement, a cable 71 is trained around the marginal edges of the hull and at the rear portion of the hull, the cable is knotted at 72 and extends through an aperture 73 at each side of the hull and with the cable also passing through apertures 74 and 75, forming loops 76 and 77, that normally lie upon the top of the flange 9. By grasping either of the loops 76 and 77, the hull may be lifted from the water.

It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the precise construction shown, but that changes are contemplated as readily fall within the spirit of the invention as shall be determined by the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. A power actuated swimming apparatus that comprises a hollow floatation hull, having an internal combustion engine mounted therein and whereby to drive a propeller, whereby the hull is forcibly propelled through the water, the hull having an opening upon its bottom to receive the driving propeller and an exhaust stack that receives exhaust gases from the engine, the exhaust gases adapted to pass through a manifold that projects downwardly into the water, the propeller being driven by the engine and mounted in a cylindrical shield, a plate mounted over the opening of the hull to which is connected the exhaust manifold, a stack communicating with the manifold that extends upwardly at an angle rearwardly and that is axial with an enlarged angular stack that communicates with an upwardly angled relatively large stack and that projects above the hull, a fresh air stack adjacent the exhaust stack that permits the entry of fresh air to an area of the engine, means rearwardly of the hull whereby to start and control the speed of the engine, a viewing device that is detachably connected to a rear end of the hull and with the viewing device having transparent viewing panels in an upper and lower wall thereof, the viewing device having upstanding ribs at both sides that have hooking engagement with the arm pits of a swimmer and with the viewing device having an arcuate cavity in its rear portion to engage the body of the swimmer and whereby the swimmer is pulled in a swimming direction by the engine and simultaneously may view the underwater area through the panels.

2. The structure according to claim 1 wherein the hull is formed of an upper and lower molded plastic section, the marginal edges of the sections being bonded together to form a circumferential rib for the hull, the opening of the lower hull being closed by a metallic plate that is bonded thereto and with the plate carrying upstanding legs that support the engine and the manifold, the manifold projecting downwardly to be disposed within the water whereby to cool the exhaust gases passing therethrough, the side walls of the manifold being provided with longitudinal ribs and with an insert within the manifold of generally U-shape that has fitment into the manifold alongside the ribs and with the insert having side walls that are perforated, the inner Walls of the insert being provided with a plurality of baflie plates and with the insert carrying the upwardly extending and angularly disposed exhaust stack, the exhaust stack being relatively smaller than the upwardly and outwardly extending stack and whereby the exhaust gases create a venturi action at the entry end of the outwardly extending stack.

3. The structure according to claim 1 wherein an upper hull section is provided with an opening that is normally covered by a hingedly connected cover plate, the cover plate adapted to expose the engine and with the cover plate carrying the enlarged exhaust stack and the air inlet stack, a fuel tank disposed within the upper hull section and that is provided with a fuel filler device upon the outer side of the hull section, the tank being disposed upon a floatation device and with the floatation de vice being fitted into the lower hull section, the manifold being bolted to the plate that covers the lower opening of the lower hull section and a separate plate having connected thereto the insert that extends down into the manifold substantially parallel thereto and with the manifold and the insert projecting into the water to effectively cool the exhaust gases from the water prior to their discharge through the exhaust stack.

4. The structure according to claim 1 wherein the hull is provided with a transversely extending serrated bar that is rotatable by the hands of the swimmer, the bar carrying a flexible cable that extends through an opening of the upper hull and to the carburator whereby the swimmer may increase or decrease the speed of the engine when he is engaged with the viewing device.

5. The structure according to claim 1 wherein the viewing device is provided with upper and lower walls that create an internal chamber, the upper wall being inclined and having a sealed viewing lens, the lower wall also being provided with a viewing lens that is in substantial vertical alignment with the upper lens, the outer marginal portions of the viewing device being provided with upstanding ribs that are beveled at their forward ends and that are adapted to engage the arm pits of the swimmer, the chamber of the viewing device being filled with a suitable gas that prevents clouding of the lens during the movement of the device through the water, the forward end of the viewing device having a flange that is adapted to have hooked engagement with a downwardly projecting stud and whereby to connect the viewing device to the hull, the marginal edge of the hull also being provided with a pair of spaced apart bolts that are connected to a step portion of the viewing device whereby to clamp the viewing device to the marginal flanges of the hull and to a lower portion of the lower hull section.

6. The structure according to claim 2 wherein the marginal flange of the hull is provided with a lifting cable that is fixed to the flange adjacent the rear end of the hull and that passes through apertures in the flange upon the sides of the hull to overlie the flange and also over the forward part of the flange whereby to form loops that constitute lifting means for the hull, the said viewing device being detachably connected to the hull and held against tilting movement by the stud and the bolts.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,708,759 5/1955 Srrawn 1l56.1 2,712,139 7/1955 Kelly 1l466 X 3,270,707 9/1966 Rofanski 70 MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner.

T. M. BLIX, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A POWER ACTUATED SWIMMING APPARATUS THAT COMPRISES A HOLLOW FLOATATION HULL, HAVING AN INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE MOUNTED THEREIN AND WHEREBY TO DRIVE A PROPELLER, WHEREBY THE HULL IS FORCIBLY PROPELLED THROUGH THE WATER, THE HULL HAVING AN OPENING UPON ITS BOTTOM TO RECEIVE THE DRIVING PROPELLER AND AN EXHAUST STACK THAT RECEIVES EXHAUST GASES FROM THE ENGINE, THE EXHAUST GASES ADAPTED TO PASS THROUGH A MANIFOLD THAT PROJECTS DOWNWARDLY INTO THE WATER, THE PROPELLER BEING DRIVEN BY THE ENGINE AND MOUNTED IN A CYLINDRICAL SHIELD, A PLATE MOUNTED OVER THE OPENING OF THE HULL TO WHICH IS CONNECTED THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD, A STACK COMMUNICATING WITH THE MANIFOLD THAT EXTENDS UPWARDLY AT AN ANGLE REARWARDLY AND THAT IS AXIAL WITH AN ENLARGED ANGULAR STACK THAT COMMUNICATES WITH AN UPWARDLY ANGLED RELATIVELY LARGE STACK AND THAT PROJECTS ABOVE THE HULL, A FRESH AIR STACK ADJACENT THE EXHAUST STACK PERMITS THE ENTRY OF FRESH AIR TO AN AREA OF THE ENGINE, MEANS REARWARDLY OF THE HULL WHEREBY TO START AND CONTROL THE SPEED OF THE ENGINE, A VIEWING DEVICE THAT IS DETACHABLY CONNECTED TO A REAR END OF THE HULL AND WITH THE VIEWING DEVICE HAVING TRANSPARENT VIEWING PANELS IN AN UPPER AND LOWER WALL THEREOF, THE VIEWING DEVICE HAVING UPSTANDING RIBS AT BOTH SIDES THAT HAVE HOOKING ENGAGEMENT WITH THE ARM PITS OF A SWIMMER AND WITH THE VIEWING DEVICE HAVING AN ARCUATE CAVITY IN ITS REAR PORTION TO ENGAGE THE BODY OF THE SWIMMER AND WHEREBY THE SWIMMER IS PULLED IN A SWIMMING DIRECTION BY THE ENGINE AND SIMULTANEOUSLY MAY VIEW THE UNDERWATER AREA THROUGH THE PANELS. 